ManageEngine offers a wide array of IT solutions and add-ons. But while the broad feature set and affordable initial price point may appeal to execs, day-to-day users aren’t always big fans. We’ll break down what you should know when deciding which ManageEngine competitor is right for you.
Why consider a ManageEngine alternative?
When sysadmins have their say, they often seek out ManageEngine alternatives due to ManageEngine’s lackluster user experience, slow performance, limited customer support, and complicated pricing.
User experience
ManageEngine users often face a steep learning curve. Since the UX is complex, it can take some time before IT teams start seeing much ROI.
“The initial setup can be a bit overwhelming due to the number of configurations available and I feel like sometimes the solution is over-engineered with a few unnecessary features.” — Abdul-gafar A., IT systems administrator
Performance
Many users report performance issues, including lagging and slow response times.
“Patching doesn't work consistently. Configurations (automation) cannot be chained, so each automated task has to be done separately. If you have a Desktop Central [account] on more than 50 devices at a time, the desktop central server is likely to error out or lag out ...” — Craig B., lead automation engineer
Customer support
Some ManageEngine customers say they don’t get the support they need, facing slow response times and difficulties with communication.
“Access to meaningful support is the toolset's biggest shortcoming. The IT group is pretty much on their own to configure the tools to suit their needs.” — Anthony P., CIO
Complicated pricing
With so many products and add-ons, understanding the price you’ll actually pay for the features you need can be challenging. Additionally, while there are some products with low entry-level pricing, that cost can skyrocket quickly with each added capability.
“The pricing can be on the higher side for smaller organizations, especially when considering advanced features and scalability. The licensing model can also be a bit confusing.” — Thien N., IT manager
1. PDQ Connect
PDQ Connect is an easy-to-use Windows device management solution built for sysadmins, by sysadmins. The agent-based tool offers automated patching and vulnerability management. Connect can help you effortlessly oversee your fleet, whether it’s remote, on-prem, or hybrid.
Features
Robust patch management
Automated package deployment
Vulnerability management & remediation
Prebuilt & custom device groups
Detailed reporting
Remote desktop
Robust Package Library
Seamless integration
Pros
User-friendly interface
Rapid deployments
Quick, friendly customer support
Transparent pricing
Focused feature set
Intuitive yet flexible
Centralized platform
Cons
Doesn’t try to do it all; focused on quality features for common Windows device management tasks rather than broad, often unnecessary capabilities
What makes PDQ Connect the top ManageEngine alternative?
When comparing PDQ Connect vs. ManageEngine, PDQ Connect has several key advantages.
User experience
PDQ Connect is built to be intuitive for even the most novice sysadmins while being flexible enough to give expert IT professionals granular control. Its seamless user experience is a far cry from ManageEngine’s, which some users describe as “clunky.”
Speed
PDQ is pretty damn quick. It’s kind of our thing. You don’t have time to wait around for the slow response times or lag users often experience with ManageEngine. With PDQ Connect you can do what you need to do and get on with your day. No fuss.
Customer support
PDQ has an expert US-based support team of former sysadmins waiting at the ready. During PDQ business hours PDQ Connect Premium tier customers can get technical support within 60 minutes. In contrast, some ManageEngine users report long wait times and scripted responses.
Features
Rather than dabbling in a little bit of everything, PDQ Connect excels at what it does: automated patching and vulnerability management for Windows devices. In contrast, ManageEngine Endpoint Central tries to do it all — across every major operating system — for expansive offerings without any standout capabilities.
Centralize your Windows device management
Gain real-time visibility, deploy software, remediate vulnerabilities, schedule reports, automate maintenance tasks, and access remote devices from one easy-to-use platform.
2. Ivanti
Like ManageEngine, Ivanti offers a broad range of solutions for various IT tasks, including ITSM, network security, and more. Both products can be considered unified endpoint management (UEM) solutions. Most notably, Ivanti Endpoint Manager is a direct competitor of ManageEngine’s most popular tool, Endpoint Central.
Features
Multiplatform support
OS provisioning
Software distribution
User profile management
Remote control
Pros
Large suite of products
Helpful support team
Cons
Many features require add-ons
Setup and implementation can be tricky
Pricing information isn’t publicly available
Sifting through the product options to find what you actually need can be tough
3. NinjaOne
NinjaOne is a remote monitoring and management (RMM) solution that dabbles in a little bit of a lot of IT capabilities. Its features and add-ons combine to cover everything from automated endpoint management to M365 backup and more. While this might be ideal if you’re looking for a ManageEngine alternative with a similarly broad feature set, it also increases the complexity and cost.
Features
Automated patch management
Vulnerability scanning
Real-time inventory data
Remote desktop
Backup
MDM
Pros
Wide array of features
Easy setup
Cons
Inconsistent support
Complex tasks
Unclear feature tiers
Unreliable patch management
High price, especially with so many add-ons
4. Atera
Atera is another RMM platform that’s chock-full of features intended to provide an all-in-one IT solution. If you value feature quantity over quality, Atera might be a good option for you.
Features
Patch management
Remote monitoring and management
Remote access
Network discovery
Help desk ticketing
Pros
Transparent pricing
Intuitive interface
Extensive integration options
Cons
Limited reporting
Limited customization
Occasional glitches or errors
Lacking advanced features
Frequent changes
Add-ons that increase cost
5. ServiceNow
ServiceNow makes a wide array of AI-powered enterprise-grade business software, including IT solutions. If you’re already using ServiceNow for other areas of your business, it may be a good ManageEngine alternative for your security operations, IT asset management, IT operations management, and IT service management needs.
Features
Automated asset discovery
Automatic patching
Real-time visibility
Patch management
Performance analytics
Risk-based vulnerability management
Configuration management
Incident management
Event management
SaaS license management
Pros
Centralized platform
Responsive customer support
Integration options
Cons
High price point
Enterprise-grade features that may be unnecessary for SMBs
Steep learning curve
Complex interface
6. SolarWinds
SolarWinds offers a robust suite of enterprise-grade IT management solutions, including monitoring, service management, security, database, and other tools. If ManageEngine appeals to you because of its broad range of options, then SolarWinds will probably also be right up your alley if you’re prepared for the cost and setup.
Features
Scheduled patch deployment
Network visualization
Application monitoring
Security dashboard
Ticketing and assisted response
Remote desktop
Active Directory management
User activity monitoring
Pros
Ability to select the modules you want
Centralized platform
Scalable
Cons
High costs, especially with add-ons
Inflexible tool
Questionable customer support
Complex setup
ManageEngine alternative FAQs
What is ManageEngine?
A division of the Zoho Corporation, ManageEngine is an ITSM solution provider with tools for varying IT tasks, including network monitoring, network management, IP address management, Windows Server management, patch management, asset management, customer service management, application performance monitoring, incident management, remote monitoring, real user monitoring, change management, enterprise service management, and more. (Yep, that was a lot to type.)
However, these features are separated across a wide array of products, including ManageEngine Password Manager Pro, ManageEngine Applications Manager, ManageEngine OpManager, ManageEngine Endpoint Central, ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus, and many more.
What should I look for in an endpoint management tool?
When assessing an endpoint management tool, consider the following:
Features
Pricing
User experience
Customer support
Compatibility
Integrations
Security
Scalability
Performance
Reputation
What should I consider when reading ManageEngine reviews?
When reading reviews of any ITSM software or monitoring tool, you should get granular about what you need and don’t need (including add-ons), attempt to calculate the cost, and then see whether that expense is worth it to your organization based on what other users report experiencing. There are plenty of ManageEngine alternatives on the market with similar features. Ideally, reading reviews should help illuminate which options have strengths that align with your needs and weaknesses you can live with.
What is the best ManageEngine alternative for me?
The best ManageEngine alternative for you depends on your environment, goals, team, budget, and existing tools. Ultimately, it should be able to streamline your workflows and simplify your most common tasks without a lot of unnecessary fluff to drive up the cost and complexity.
